Female CEO Excellence 2017
femaleceo excellence 2017awards
Also in this issue:
Sports Revolution 3SpiritUK
Candesic
Welcome to the Female CEO Awards The number of Female CEOs is currently at an all-time high around the globe, and in light of this CEO Monthly is excited to announce the launch of the inaugural Female CEO Excellence Awards. We feel that these innovative and hardworking businesswomen deserve to be recognised throughout their desired industry, and what better way to do so by winning one of our respected awards.
Contents: Modern Electric Tramways Ltd Tourism CEO of the Year 2017 - England & Best Heritage Attraction - Devon
Wales Air Ambulance Medical Charity CEO of the Year & Best Emergency Healthcare NPO - Wales
Vinden Estates Ltd. Most Instrumental Woman in Residential Sales 2017 - UK
Society for the Environment Professional Certification CEO of the Year & Best Environmental Qualification Authority - UK
The Tinnitus Clinic Best Aural Healthcare Practice MD & Most Innovative Specialised Tinnitus Clinic - UK
Cavendish Employment Law Limited Best Employment Law Director - South East England
Talking Talent Ltd. Most Influential Performance Coaching MD - South England & Best Global Coaching Consultancy - UK
Incisive Edge Best Influential Woman in Inbound Marketing London & Best Tech Inbound Marketing Agency -UK
Candesic Business Partner of the Year 2017 & Most Influential Woman in Healthcare - UK
3SpiritUK Best Social Care Consultancy MD - UK
Julio C. Guerrero B. Intellectual Property Law Office Most Influential IP Law Firm Director - Ecuador
Sports Revolution Sports Marketing MD of the Year - South England & Best Sports Media & Rights Company - UK
Ubuntu HR Limited Most Inspirational Woman in HR Management & Best HR Consulting Company - UK
Simply Boarding Education Management CEO of the Year & Best Boarding School Development Consultancy - UK
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 3
,
FCE17006
Tourism CEO of the Year 2017 – England & Best Heritage Attraction – Devon Seaton Tramway has been in Seaton since 1969 and has carried several million delighted passengers over the years. We spoke to Jenny Nunn, CEO, to discuss what makes herself and the company so successful. Many of Seaton Tramway’s customers return each year to take in the six-mile round trip from the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage site at Seaton, through two nature reserves and the River Axe Estuary to the medieval town of Colyton. It employs around 50 full and part-time staff together with 40+ volunteers who serve the 90,000 visitors each year. With a fleet of fourteen historic trams, the company is most famous for its open top doubledeckers which are liveried to depict the towns and cities where tram travel was once so key. Jenny talks us through her background and how she came to be in the role of CEO. Alluding to her leadership style, she also explains how she aims to always make her customers happy as well as her staff.
manager, then managing director, and now CEO since the company became a charity in 2015 and set up its trading arm, Seaton Tramway Enterprises Ltd, the latter of which I am also a director. Prior to starting out in the travel industry, I spent 2½ years in Sweden, one of which was at Uppsala University after receiving a scholarship for postgraduate research in Swedish Literature and another year at Lund University as an undergraduate.”
“My background is in travel, tourism and marketing, having worked for some well-known tour operators and run my own businesses in the past. I have now been with Modern Electric Tramways for nearly fourteen years starting as commercial
In relation to her previous roles, Jenny discusses whether she draws on her experience when making important decisions. She talks about her passion to retain the heritage of the tramway but also to embrace the future, particularly when it comes to
“When you are in the entertainment business, because that is what tourism is, you must always strive to be happy and smile, and hopefully that smile and happiness filters through to your staff and customers. It may sound cliché, but you are making future memories for people and that is the special thing about this industry.”
technology. Having experience in both marketing and accounting, Jenny understands what needs to be done to attract more customers whilst making a profit. “As a director of the Heritage Railway Association, which represents over 100 operating railways in the UK and Ireland, I am passionate about the fact that heritage rail needs not only to preserve its links with the past but also embrace the future with technological innovation as well as attracting a new, young audience and young staff and volunteers to keep it current and appealing. “With regards to my experience, I am slightly unusual as I have trained in both marketing and accounting so understand the need to broaden the heritage rail appeal to a wider audience plus make a good healthy profit. I am a great exponent of using the brand power of specific IPs and adapting on-board themes throughout the operating year such as The Polar Express™, Dinosaur Train™, fairies, pirates and the Tram of Terror at Halloween.”
4 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
Looking ahead, Jenny spoke to us about what changes she would like to see within the corporate landscape which could make it easier for women to succeed. Being male or female should not matter as long as the person at the helm is doing a good job. Being hard working and determined should lead to anyone being able to become successful. “Inclusivity I firmly believe in, however, when it comes to women in industry and striving for the top positions, change can only come about from old-fashioned hard work and determination, assuming there is equal opportunity as a baseline, of course. Tokenism or positive discrimination are not the answers and I am confident that I have got where I am today on merit, nothing more. Having a gender-neutral viewpoint, I like to think I do a great job because I am a good boss, therefore the male/female dichotomy does not enter into the debate.” Regarding what the future has in store for Seaton Tramway, Jenny gives us an insight into some upcoming projects, one of which
g
Tourism CEO of the Year 2017 – England & Best Heritage Attraction – Devon
she seems particularly keen to point out. She describes her key motivation which keeps her coming to work and continuing to make the organisation as successful as it currently is. “In September, after years of planning and negotiation with the local authority, we start work on a new contemporary-design station at Seaton. We plan to bring in a wider audience by creating a real ‘wow factor’ in transport heritage as well as an economic, sustainable tourism base for the future for everyone to enjoy. “So, I like every day to be an amazing day, amazing not just for the paying public, but also for all our staff and volunteers. Seeing the kids’ faces when you
create something magical is the driver to come to work every morning and it actually doesn’t feel like work as it’s a privilege to be involved in this industry.”
Contact: Jenny Nunn Contact Email: jenny@tram.co.uk Riverside Depot, Harbour Road Seaton, Devon, EX12 2NQ, UK Phone: 01297 20375 Website: www.tram.co.uk
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 5
,
FCE17001
Most Instrumental Woman in Residential Sales 2017 - UK Vinden Estates is a small but successful estate agency with only three employees dealing mainly in residential sales. We spoke to Sonia Vinden to find out what makes them so successful and discuss how well the team sell houses in the Ripon area. Before setting up Vinden Estates, Sonia worked as a Branch Manager for two other companies. She feels that it has been highly rewarding to open up her own estate agency. Sonia believes the job is pretty much the same as when she started with customer service being at the top of what the agency offers. Sonia outlines her wealth of experience to us, discussing how there has been a massive increase in women in senior roles since she started out. “As of June 2018, I will have been an estate agent in Ripon for thirty years and indeed some clients think I have been in every house. Things have also changed a lot, particularly in the way that when I started, all Estate Agents in senior roles were men but now there are many ladies in the top roles. Indeed, nowadays, buyers and sellers seem to like dealing with female estate agents.” Sonia explains that the business has become increasingly successful and how the firm aims to implement its current strategy of focusing on customer service and putting the client first. She also discusses her leadership style and the faith she has in her staff. “The business has been increasingly financially successful year on year since launch and our ongoing strategy is to continue to do much the
same as we have been again with the focus on client care and customer service. “Overall, I work very hard and expect members of my team to do the same. Luckily, I have worked with my two members of staff for a long time so know they always give their best.” Looking ahead, there seems to be an exciting future for the firm. Sonia describes some upcoming projects that Vinden Estates is undertaking as well as highlighting the fact that clients have been satisfied by the service. “Recently, we were asked to market an agricultural smallholding, jointly with Ernie Sherwin Ltd. This extended to just under nine acres. Interest was very high and the property was sold by informal tender, reaching a record figure for agricultural land in the area. Both vendor and buyer were highly delighted with our service.”
Company: Vinden Estates Contact: Sonia Vinden Contact Email: sonia.vinden@ vindenestates.com Address: The Old Coach House, 3 Blossomgate, Ripon, HG4 2AJ, UK Phone: 01765 606885 Website: www.vindenestates.com
6 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
,
FCE17004
Best Aural Healthcare Practice MD & Most Innovative Specialised Tinnitus Clinic - UK The Tinnitus Clinic is a private adult audiology rehabilitation clinic with branches across the UK specialising in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management. We spoke to Josephine Swinhoe to discuss winning this recent award and explore the secrets behind her success. The leading provider of the latest evidencebased tinnitus treatments in the UK, The Tinnitus Clinic work with adults who have severe tinnitus and/or hyperacusis who require specialised rehabilitation services including Armed Forces veterans and the emergency services. Many patients are highly anxious and have been previously misinformed there is nothing that can be done about their condition and no possibility of treatment. Josephine tells us a bit more about her firm and the types of clients she deals with. “A poll of our patients found 91 per cent were told by their healthcare professional their tinnitus was something they would have to ‘learn to live with’. As a result, we published a GP Guide, with input and contributions from doctors and other healthcare professionals, as a free resource to help the healthcare industry better understand the condition and what can be done to help those affected. “Many of our products are only available in the UK at The Tinnitus Clinic, including the Levo® Therapy System which recently won a prize at the Annual Medical Design Excellence Awards in the USA.” Talking us through her previous roles, Josephine explains how she came to achieve her position as CEO of the clinic and whether or not she draws on past experiences when making decisions in her current role.
“Having started my professional career as an officer in the British Army, this is where I learned to develop my leadership skills, moral courage, self-reliance and the importance of teamwork. From there, I went on to have a successful career as a fundraising and marketing professional culminating in working at the Alzheimer’s Society leading a period of extensive financial growth including a re-brand.
to enter but I think we are many years off total gender equality.”
“My past experiences in a number of high-pressure roles and environments have helped me develop coping strategies for my own well-being. I am very aware of my own high performance zone and strive to ensure that zone is maintained within my working life. I have also been able to build up a greater awareness of and understanding that behind every person is an individual with different backgrounds, experiences and needs.”
“My leadership style is open, transparent and dependent on good communication – which means listening more than speaking. I am a visible and present leader. I encourage everyone to feel part of the vision by being very clear on how everyone’s role impacts on successfully delivering the end result, as well as celebrating their successes and learning from failures.”
Josephine discusses with us what changes she has seen both in the firm and the wider industry with regard to women. She notes that although there are women in audiology, it could be a few years before the industry fully accepts gender equality. “There are many women in junior to mid-level management in audiology. However, audiology businesses with a female MD or CEO are relatively few and tend to be smaller clinics, run and owned by that person. Audiology is seen as an attractive industry for women
Regarding her leadership style, Josephine informs us of how she ensures everyone in her clinic understands her vision and how they all work towards achieving the same goals. Josephine is always visible and interacting with staff, encouraging them to share ideas and celebrate everyone’s success as a team.
Finally, Josephine highlights what changes she would like to see within the corporate landscape which would make it easier for women to succeed. “Fundamentally, I would like there to be a greater awareness of the unspoken messages involved with leadership and imagery. For example, when the media run stories about CEOs, let’s ensure the accompanying image is not always a stock picture of a man in a suit – through imagery, we create and shape people’s perceptions and expectations. Women need to take responsibility for themselves – they need to ensure they have robust emotional health. Companies have also got to take responsibility for all staff – regardless of gender – by supporting them at work and encouraging them to achieve their potential.”
Looking ahead, Josephine comments on her future aspirations for the clinic and also mentions what plans she has regarding her own career, outlining how she is looking to capitalise on her current success. “Moving forward, I want to see us become the ‘clinic of choice’, in the UK and other markets, for those seeking the very best quality in tinnitus treatment and management. I want to take my learnings from my career and share them with other companies, acting as a non-executive director to help them maximize their offering.”
Contact: Josephine Swinhoe Email: Josephine.swinhoe@ thetinnitusclinic.co.uk Address: The Smiths Building, 179 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PL, UK Tel: 0203 326 1777 Website: www.thetinnitusclinic.co.uk
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 7
,
FCE17003
Most Influential Performance Coaching MD – South England & Best Global Coaching Consultancy Talking Talent is the leading provider of consultancy and coaching for women and working parents in the UK and is at the forefront of developing the female talent pipeline across the globe. Founder Jo Lyon, talks to us about her company and her aspirations for the future. The challenge of female representation at board level and the progression of women is well documented. Businesses and governments recognise that enabling women to work at the most senior levels is good for the individuals and businesses involved. Jo discusses the firm’s overall mission. “At Talking Talent, we are passionate about helping organisations achieve their equality goals and move far past current figures that show women make up just 29% of hires to UK boards. “The team’s aim is to improve the dialogue between individuals and companies. Professional coaching can help women make progress in their careers and fulfil their potential.” Jo’s background in headhunting, HR and coaching gave her the opportunity to engage and support hundreds of women on an individual basis. Those conversations also made Jo want to help on a larger scale and ultimately inspired her to do her research and co-found Talking Talent.
“Since 2005, we have been steadily building our unique approaches to helping women realise their full potential. We have coached around 19,000 women, working parents and line managers, and on average save over £100m a year across our clients in retention alone. We have a truly global footprint. Talking Talent’s own flexible approach to working has attracted the very best in coaching talent. Regarding the future, Jo is optimistic for gender diversity, whilst also discussing her own personal ambitions, not just for her but also for her family. “A perfect 50:50 gender balance for some of our clients may be an unrealistic ambition in the short term - but that is ok. A good starting point is to get a critical mass of women into each leadership team. And from there organisations can create new, more inclusive and effective cultures. “Fundamentally, I am extremely committed to ‘shifting the dial’ on tough gender and commercial targets by building more inclusive cultures where everyone is engaged and can reach their potential. I want to support
organisations to retain and develop their talented women. For me, it’s personal - I have three daughters, so am striving for the business world to be a different place for them.”
8 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
Contact: Jo Lyon Contact Email: info@talking-talent.com Address: 102 Crowmarsh Battle Barns, Preston Crowmarsh, Oxfordshire, OX10 6SL, UK Phone: 01491 821 850 Web Address: www.talking-talent.com
FCE17008
,
Business Partner of the Year 2017 & Most Influential Woman in Healthcare - UK Candesic is a leading strategy consultancy head-quartered in London, serving private operators, investors, and public sector organisations. We spoke to Dr Michelle Tempest about the services her company provides as well as her own recent success. Candesic supports clients with their business strategy and to gain comfort in investment decisions through consultancy projects and commercial due diligence engagements. Clients include healthcare companies (private, public and charity) as well as private equity firms and other investors. Candesic is unique in the marketplace bringing together the trio of skills business, medicine and academia to get under the skin of healthcare businesses, evaluating both their business attributes and their clinical components which often drive the success of the business. Michelle is delighted to receive this award and discusses how far society has come with regard to women and what opportunities this success may make for the firm. “It was a great honour to receive such prestigious awards. It is almost exactly 100 years ago, when women first got the right to vote. Today we are lucky to live through an era where achievements are not dependent upon gender, but on meritocratic dedication and hard work. Nobody can tell what the next 100 years will bring. However, I doubt gender will be an issue.” Regarding her previous roles, Michelle tells us about her journey towards achieving her position as partner at Candesic. Her formative years were spent on a military
base and this is the foundation of what Michelle bases her leadership style on. “Having worked in a diverse group of jobs in my time, they have all added to my knowledge and experience. I started working in business in 2004 and it took me 10 years to become Partner of management consultancy Candesic. However, business was not my first job, far from it. I did the 24/7 shifts of being a front line hospital doctor for 13 years and trained as a psychiatrist. Nothing can ever quite compare to being the duty doctor and seeing people in life and death situations. You learn that teamwork is paramount, life is precious, and how vital taking responsibility for others is. “Alongside this, I also passionately believe in passing on knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation and I teach medical law and ethics at Cambridge University, which I have done since 1998. As for other jobs – I have been a manager of a recording studio, a Parliamentary candidate, a dental nurse, a security guard, a housekeeper and too many others to list – but, I have never been afraid of rolling up my sleeves and getting on with the job.” Teamwork is vital in any business, something Michelle is keen to highlight. Creating a fun working environment and ensuring the jobs and projects are enjoyable, Michelle knows how to get the best out of her team.
“Perhaps because my formative years were spent on a military base, teamwork is paramount to me. Never ask someone to do a task you would not do yourself and you never leave a member of team behind. All results are collaborative and only as good as the weakest link in your team. If everyone is striving towards the same shared goal in the same direction of travel, then you are more likely to reach your destination. Overall nobody is perfect, people’s differences make them more interesting, and communication is key. Lead with head, heart and vision, make the journey fun and always ensure everyone knows why we have to work hard.” There have been many challenges which Michelle has faced during her time at the company but she states that there are always challenges in life. She gives advice to those who are facing new challenges whilst also stating that she embraces a challenge and enjoys learning to understand. In Michelle’s mind, challenges create opportunities. “There are always challenges in life. What is important is how you react to adversity and focus on how best to solve the problems. Thankfully I enjoy a challenge, enjoy understanding the core of an issue and enjoy breaking it down issues into manageable constituent parts. After all, if you don’t face challenges then you will never find the opportunities. And as a psychiatrist, I know it’s all
about people, and thankfully I love people.” Ultimately, the future for Candesic looks bright, with innovative minds like Michelle at the top, the company can only look forward. Having doubled in size, the company are planning to expand globally and personally, Michelle is looking to continue to teach and train the next generation, encouraging young females to get into business. “Candesic has doubled in size during the last four years, next steps are to expand the business with an even wider global reach. The entire world faces the same care issues: people are living longer with more long term conditions and all governments are looking at novel solutions to manage costs, alongside keeping up with expensive medical technological advancements. I also want to continue with teaching and training the next generation and am developing year training programmes, bespoke for females, who have not yet considered business as a career.”
Candesic
Contact: Dr Michelle Tempest Contact Email: mtempest@candesic.com Twitter: @DrMTempest Address: 16/F New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4TQ, UK Phone: 020 7096 7680 Web Address: www.candesic.com
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 9
,
FCE17002
Most Influential IP Law Firm Director - Ecuador Julio C. Guerrero B, Intellectual Property Law Office is a family law firm specializing in Intellectual Property based in Ecuador. We invited Johana Aguirre Guerrero to talk us through the firm’s values and success, as well as discussing her own achievements. Julio C. Guerrero B. is an Intellectual Property specialized law firm, with its strategies based on satisfying client´s requirements and growing globally in order to offer better services and successful solutions for all clients. Techniques used by the firm to keep up with developments within the industry include the creation of the firm’s own software which helps to manage its client´s trademarks. This software has been updated every year so now the team can offer a comparative process every month for all trademarks, comparing brands that may have conflicts. This software allows clients to log in and find information related to their processes. Johana explains to us how it feels to win this award and what she attributes to her success before going on to discuss what difference she thinks winning the award will do for her and the law firm’s future business. “Firstly, I believe this award was granted to me not only because of my constant effort but also my team’s sacrifices and work ethic. They support all my decisions and strategies so I attribute this success to everyone. As we all feel proud of this award, I consider that winning it will make all workers in Julio C. Guerrero. B, feel part of an important law office and this will also make us work even harder to retain this status.”
Outlining her previous roles, Johana details how she came to achieve her position at the company and whether or not she draws on her past experiences when making decisions in her current role. She comments on how hard she had to work to get where she is now and received no benefits despite her mother being her department chief. “Fundamentally, I began working in this law firm as a junior lawyer and even though my mother was the legal department chief, I had no privileges so I had to work hard in order to climb the ladder. Many years later, I became a senior lawyer in the Intellectual Property department and currently, I am Legal Department Director. I have been working in my current position for around four years. “During my formation as a lawyer I had so many good and bad experiences. I was never alone, so probably the advice I got from my teachers, my colleagues and my family helped me overcome all the difficult circumstances. Every single experience helped me to become a humble leader who takes advices from others and process it in order to make the best decisions.” Since starting her career, Johana mentions the changes that she has seen both in the firm and within the industry it operates, particularly with regard to women. She describes how the firm has had to adapt to different client’s needs, as well
as commenting on her own leadership style and how she has adapted it to suit her employees and clients. “I have seen the leaders of my law firm making good and bad decisions. I learned from them so now I have implemented changes not only in the business but also in the way people work. In this regard, I am always trying to understand my client’s necessary requirements and help them in the best way possible, implementing the best kind of technology and the kindness of my team. “Regarding the role of women in our firm, we are proud to say that over 80% of the employees are women. We believe in them and in their role as professionals in each field we have in the firm. From the person who cleans the office through the accountant, the computer engineers and the lawyers, they are all women. For any woman who has looked for a job in this firm we have made a place available. They feel we are like a family and not only as job partners.” Ultimately, there are some changes that Johana would like to see within the corporate landscape in the future which would make it easier for women to succeed. Regarding the pay gap between men and women, this is something Johana would like to see all companies reduce, especially as women are perfectly capable of performing well in their respective roles.
10 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
“In Latin America, I think that legislation must be a little stronger concerning recruiting women, so that the enterprises are forced to hire them. Also, I believe that all the companies should reduce the difference between women and men salaries. Women are perfectly capable of being professionals and mothers without decreasing their effectiveness. We just need to feel confidence and be supported by our social environment.”
Contact: Johana Aguirre Guerrero Contact Email: johanaa@juliocguerrerob.com Address: Mariano Aguilera E7-262 y Av. Diego de Almagro, Edificio Doctorados Flacso Piso 2, Quito, E7-262, Ecuador Phone: +593 2 3238 008 Website: www.juliocguerrerob.com
FCE17007
,
Most Inspirational Woman in HR Management – UK & Best HR Consulting Company Ubuntu HR connects your business closely to its people to improve performance, motivation levels and profitability. We spoke to Lisa Gower to discover what makes herself and the company so successful. Ubuntu work with SME’s from a variety of industries, of which most are based in the North West but with some further afield across the UK. The company works with MD’s who are strong and inspirational, who also believe in their staff and possess integrity. Outlining the firm’s overall mission, Lisa mentions how Ubuntu look to be an inspiration to the younger generation, giving advice and helping them develop their skills and fulfil their potential. “Our mission is to inspire leaders and managers to empower their people to be the best that they can be, by providing concise, professional and solution-focused support and advice.” Lisa then goes on to explain her past experiences and detail how she came to become MD of Ubuntu, before telling us about how the HR profession has changed since she first started. Despite women outnumbering men in the industry, men have held senior roles but Lisa notes that this is starting to change. “Having started out as Residential Social Worker, I embarked on a career in HR. I started my own Consultancy business in 2005 and in 2011 incorporated the business into Ubuntu HR Ltd – growing the business to now working with 60 clients.
“HR has always been a predominantly female industry and although we outnumber the amount of men in the profession, men have held the more senior roles – this has begun to shift in the last 10 years and there are now more females in roles of influence across the industry.” Ulitmately, Lisa must ensure that all her staff work together to achieve the mission and reach the same goals. As a leader, Lisa is always
looking to inspire her people, and help create a profitable business, whilst being compliant with the law. With a solid foundation to build on, the future looks bright for Ubuntu with Lisa at the top. “My style is one of inspiring and facilitating. I love helping people and inspiring others to be the very best that they can be. HR is an area where you can shape the culture of a business and inspire the leaders within a
business to motivate their teams, creating a more productive and profitable business whilst ensuring compliance with employment law.”
Company: Ubuntu HR Limited Contact: Lisa Gower Contact Email: lisa@ubuntuhr.co.uk Address: 242 Dane Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 2LT, UK Phone: 0161 478 8293 Website: www.ubuntuhr.co.uk
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 11
,
FCE17012
Medical Charity CEO of the Year & Best Emergency Healthcare NPO - Wales Launched on St David’s Day 2001, Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) is the official air ambulance service for Wales. We spoke to Angela Hughes to find out a bit more about her success and that of the company. WAA operates three HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) helicopters, responding to critical 999 missions; and one transfer air ambulance dedicated to interhospital transfers, such as moving babies to specialist centres. Uniquely, WAA is the only air ambulance charity based in and dedicated to Wales, and relies entirely on donations to raise £6.5mn each year to keep its four aircraft flying. Discussing her leadership style, Angela is keen to point out how well the charity works as a team, with staff all working towards the same mission, looking to achieve the same goals. Having been at the company right from the start, Angela has overseen it grow to the organisation it is today, as she is keen to highlight. “Personally, my ethos has always been one of teamwork, emphasising that this charity belongs to everyone and their feedback and ideas are vital to the running of WAA. I developed WAA at a grassroots level, building the charity in the community and organising local
collection tins, so I have a strong knowledge and awareness of how important everyone’s role is at the charity, and how to take it forward at a strategic level. “Developing the charity from just myself with an initial fundraising target of £1 million, to having 99 staff, 650 volunteers and raised £70 million, I am incredibly proud of everything I have achieved over the years. I like to see people develop to their potential and if staff show the determination and commitment then I support them to be the best they can in their field. Many of our staff have been with WAA for a long time, and several have received recognition and reward for five and ten years’ service with the charity. We have staff who have flourished in their experience and skills, moving on to become managers. Currently, we are working towards being Investors in People, as we see the benefits of the journey for our staff.” Outlining her previous roles, Angela explains what it is like to be a woman working in a variety of industries and what challenges she has encountered and had
to overcome in order to have the success she has currently. Being confident in her own ability is something that Angela mentions, which helped her not to be fazed by working in a male-dominated industry. “Previously, I was Finance Director and then European HR and Quality Manager in the construction and technology industry, before embarking on a new career in regional and national fundraising more than 20 years ago. Having worked in mainly male-dominated industries over the years I have found the need to overachieve in everything I do. I recall in 1992 being the only female presenting in America amidst male leaders from all over the world. It didn’t concern me as I knew my subject and how to focus on that. However, I do believe the climate is changing for women now and it is becoming more of an even playing field.” Operating in the innovative and creative charity, Angela informs us of how her organisation is continuing to focus on developing the ambulance operation. She has been helping other companies and organisations
12 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
to develop new programmes which will be of great benefit to others in the future, showcasing her extensive knowledge and expertise in the industry, “As always, we are continuously developing the air ambulance operation and find cutting-edge ways to help patients even further. I helped to develop a brand-new programme of healthcare in Wales, called the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), or the Welsh Flying Medics. Working in partnership with Welsh Government ministers, Wales’ health boards, the Welsh Ambulance Service, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee and a pool of passionate doctors, the charity now has a dedicated team of senior consultants and critical care practitioners (CCPs) on board.” The charity is obviously making a difference in the industry. This is important as it helps to attract the best clients, and this is mostly thanks to the hard work that Angela and her team put in, in order to distinguish themselves from other charities.
g
Medical Charity CEO of the Year & Best Emergency Healthcare NPO - Wales
“WAA’s transfer helicopter, the fourth aircraft to be introduced to Wales with the UK’s only helicopter transfer practitioners on board is making a precious difference to lives and we will be continuing to develop our specialist Children’s Wales Air Ambulance division. Paediatric and neonatal services are so specialist that they are mostly centralised to major units scattered across the UK. Through our ongoing fundraising, we aim to help more children, parents and paediatric/neonatal teams in Wales by enhancing our transfer service. Our new Advanced Incubator systems are unique to Wales: we travelled to Switzerland to contribute to the design of these machines, which are electronically heated and oxygenated. They are currently the only such system in the UK and have made a valuable difference to our neonatal transfers.”
Keen to share her thoughts on leadership, Angela comments on what she believes makes her a good leader. “Every leader provides an important contribution to their industry and society as a whole. My strengths are rooted in our Values, which are integral to everything we do at the charity and they are my principles for good leadership: integrity, valuing people, innovation and accountability. “Previously, I have led various fundraising campaigns, including our £1 Appeal in 2008 to upgrade our Swansea aircraft. The premise was that if everyone in Wales gave just £1, we would reach a massive 75% of our target. The campaign was relatable and tangible to people across Wales, helping them to understand they could be a part of something big, from such a
simple donation – particularly at a time when the third sector was concerned donations would dry up in the financial crisis. The appeal was so successful that we were able to upgrade not only our Swansea aircraft, but our Caernarfon one a few months later as well.” Looking ahead, Angela will be able to use her experience in the construction industry, as she has done already, when working on a previous project as she discusses below. The charity can look to expand and grow, as with Angela at the helm, it is well placed to build on its current success, “My experience in the construction industry came in useful when obtaining and developing a site for a new, state-of-the-art airbase. This is the charity’s first owned property and is custom-built for air ambulance operations. It is currently the most advanced air ambulance site in the UK. Having
overcome a variety of challenges, I feel proud of how far I have come and hope to do others proud.”
Contact: Angela Hughes Contact Email: angelahughes@ walesairambulance.com Address: Ty Elusen, Ffordd Angel, Llanelli Gate, Dafen, Llanelli, SA14 8LQ, UK Phone: 0300 0152 999 Website: walesairambulance.com
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 13
,
FCE17015
Professional Certification CEO of the Year & Best Environmental Qualification Authority - UK The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) is the body responsible for the registration of environmental professionals. We spoke to Emma Wilcox to find out more about the organisation and her own role and past experiences. SocEnv is the custodian of the Chartered Environmentalist and Registered Environmental Technician registers. The Society operates under a Royal Charter to promote the advancement of, the dissemination of, knowledge of, and education in good environmental practice for the public benefit. Emma discusses her past experiences and how the introduction of technology has seen a massive change in the way businesses and CEOs work. “The biggest change the market has seen since I started my career is the volume of data now available at the touch of a button. A key challenge is to determine what data you should believe and what should be dismissed. We need to educate people on how to be more selective in what they accept as factual. “To support this change and help develop the industry, I would say I am a hands-on CEO as you would expect for a small organisation. However, my team deliver in their way making their own decisions. It is really important to me that we work as a team and to make sure we
have fun along the way, ensuring that we offer our service users the very best possible support.” Exploring the future of SocEnv, Emma discusses the various developments the organisation has in store over the coming months and years. “Looking ahead, SocEnv has a strong sustainable growth plan driven by clear strategic aims. Everyone knows the aims and what part they play in delivering them. It is critical that every member of the team knows their role and have the freedom to deliver to the best of their ability. A key focus for the Society is ensuring our registrations are relevant now and into the future so we continually review them.” Ultimately, Emma believes it is important that people are not categorised by their gender or any other demographic. “In order to make it easier for women to succeed, it is important that within the corporate landscape everyone does not label people. It does not matter what gender or any other label people may put on you; it’s what you can do and how you do it that matters.”
14 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
Contact: Emma Wilcox Contact Email: Emma.Wilcox@socenv.org.uk Address: TechnoCentre, 4 Puma Way, Coventry, CV1 2TT, UK Phone: 0345 337 2951 Website: www.socenv.org.uk
,
FCE17016
Best Employment Law Director – South East England Cavendish Employment Law Limited is a niche City law firm with a head office in Moorgate, London. They have also recently launched an office in Malaga, Spain. Caroline Walker provides us with a breakdown of the firm’s services and her own success. Cavendish Employment Law was established by Caroline Walker in 2009 as a niche City law firm. Their clients consist largely of senior/board level employees with a strong reputation for dealing with those in finance or education. Caroline describes how it feels to work in the city, stating that it is challenging and rewarding, before going on to detail about her past experience and how she came to launch Cavendish Employment Law Limited.
Walker. I then joined Sheridans to head up their Employment Department before moving to Sprechier Grier (SGH) to head up and launch their Employment Department in 2005.”
“The City is not always an easy landscape for a female, particularly if you want to maintain a healthy work and family balance, but I want to encourage others and let them know it is possible. I have four children and have been an employment law Partner or Director for 17 years.
“Interestingly, I have always seen employment law as a constantly evolving area and I feel it is important for the business to review the needs of the clients on an ongoing basis. Since I started my career as a trainee in 1998 there have been significant changes. At that time, compensation was limited in unfair dismissal cases to £12,000. Whilst there have been many positive changes, the current cap on unfair dismissal of approximately £80,000 still operates unfairly for senior and highly paid employees. As a result, we have had recent success in High Court claims in respect of bonus and commission claims, to ensure that justice is obtained for those individuals.”
“Regarding my previous experience, I started Cavendish Employment Law after leaving a City law firm, Sprechier Grier. I had been working in the City for a number of years and had become disillusioned with the culture. My vision, then as it remains now, was to offer a highly specialist employment law service for transparent and reasonable fees where we really go the extra mile to secure the best outcome for our clients. Prior to launching Cavendish Employment Law, I carried out my training with Andrew Wills and Company, becoming a partner upon qualifying and launching Wills
Caroline mentions how the law industry has changed and developed over time, she has seen many changes since she started her career. Despite some positive changes, such as an increase in compensation for unfair dismissal, Caroline still believes more could be done in the industry to protect employees.
Commenting on the firm’s diverse client base, Caroline states that clients are usually senior individuals and SMEs, as the firm is well known for dealing with all aspects of employment advice for its clients.
“Fundamentally, our client base is largely comprised of senior individuals and SMEs and we have built up a reputation for dealing with all aspects of employment advice for these clients. I do however ensure I always carry out pro bono work as I feel it is important to give something to those who could not otherwise afford access to justice.” Attributing her passion and thirst for justice to her success, Caroline clearly believes that everyone should be treated fairly. This is integral when running a law firm, and helps Caroline and Cavendish Law to stand out amongst other similar firms. Alongside the mission to secure justice for clients, Caroline signs off by acknowledging that all staff at the firm work together in order to secure the best result for the client, and Caroline cannot emphasise enough how proud she is of her team. “Driven by the need to secure justice for my clients, I believe that this is behind the success of Cavendish Employment Law. To lose your job or be discriminated against can be detrimental to your life in ways that it is difficult to imagine. There is the obvious loss of income, but also individuals can suffer from mental health issues, loss of confidence and devastating damage to a career they have spent years to build. It is important therefore that they have support at this time and are given the ability to secure justice that enables them to move on.”
“Ultimately, it is essential at Cavendish Employment Law that the lawyers all share the same values and ethos. This is a very carefully selected team and I believe it is crucial to the overall success of Cavendish. We have an excellent team, some of whom I have worked with for many years now and they bring skills and experience that is hard to find elsewhere.”
Contact: Caroline Walker Contact Email: cwalker@cavendishlaw.co.uk Address: 101 Finsbury Pavement, Moorgate, London, EC2A 1LS, UK Phone: 0207 167 4800 Web Address: cavendishlaw.co.uk
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 15
,
FCE17017
Best Influential Woman in Inbound Marketing – London & Best Tech Inbound Marketing Agency - UK Incisive Edge is a marketing agency specialising in inbound marketing for B2B Tech companies, driving awareness, turning visitors into leads and then onto conversions. Julia Payne gives us a breakdown of the company as well as discussing her own success. Incisive Edge works with businesses who are just about to receive Series A investment. Its main goal is to ensure that these companies have maximum opportunities to secure their Series B investment at the best valuation and to really move the dial over this crucial stage of their growth. In essence, the team help businesses succeed by changing the way they market themselves online. Julia discusses her previous roles and how her experience has helped her to achieve her current position as CEO, and how she draws on this experience when making the tough decisions. “Throughout any career, people learn and develop in every role and I think, take something with them into the next. My previous role was as CEO of an international consultancy specialising in sales and marketing leadership and this provided the foundation to my passion for the integration and alignment of marketing, to really drive sales and revenues, and crucially, to provide a return on investment.” Regarding the business techniques that Incisive Edge uses in order to make it successful, Julia alludes to the company’s recruitment structure. She also discusses her
own business strategy, which helps to explain how she gets the best out of her team, important in her role as CEO. “Here at Incisive Edge, we always recruit on culture. Of course, our team has to have the necessary expertise, but for us it’s important that we have a like-minded team that shares the agency’s core values. There are no rain makers, no individual superstars or glory hunters. We have a one team mentality, with everyone supporting each other and our clients. Wherever possible, our team is involved in the recruitment process of new team members, so our culture is self-perpetuating, rather than simply being driven from the top. We are big exponents of peer to peer learning and development and self-responsibility. “For us, it is not just a case of undertaking a series of marketing activities. We are strategic specialists and we invest heavily in creating the right strategy for where our clients are in their growth trajectory, taking into account their resources, their in-house capabilities and of course, their budgets. We view each business as unique and create the strategy to match and meet their ambitions. “Providing the company and its staff with room to grow,
management are very open on our vision and our strategy to achieve it. Our strategy is shared with everyone in the agency and crucially, people understand the role they play in achieving that strategy. Additionally, we drive that strategy from the top, through behaviour, work ethic and practicing what we preach.” In order to be a successful company, as mentioned earlier, a CEO must be a leader who is able to get the best out of their team. Being open and honest is a trademark of any good leader, however, being versatile can also help a CEO bring out the best in their team. Julia describes her approach to staff, ensuring she sticks to her own principles which she knows can be successful. “Leadership style is a very personal thing. I favour being transparent and all-inclusive, but I am also a firm believer in playing to your own strengths. It is very easy to be swayed by different leadership styles, but keeping your core values at the heart of your own style is key. “Furthermore, I am also a firm believer in direct talking, whether that’s with team members or clients. Now, over the years I have found that can be a double-edged sword. However, on the whole, I have found that people welcome
16 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
being told the truth without tiptoeing around a subject. Of course, your feedback has to be fair and balanced, but I have a distinct preference for getting straight to the point. Looking further afield, there are many changes that Julia would like to see implemented within the corporate landscape which will make it easier for women to succeed, as she concludes. “With regard to women, I think the corporate landscape has now accepted that flexibility is becoming the new norm and I think this is key for women, especially those with families. But it’s far more than just a change in the landscape that is required. I am a firm believer in putting a plan in place and making your time count. Working life is full of stuff that acts as a time sap and drains your emotional energy. I try and reduce this wherever possible and focus on what is key to driving the business whilst achieving a balanced life.” Company: Incisive Edge Contact: Julia Payne Contact Email: julia.payne@incisive-edge.com Address: 26 Berwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 8RG, UK Phone: 0800 860 0512 Web Address: www.incisive-edge.com
ce
monthly
Subscribe to CEO MONTHLY Subscribe here www.ceo-monthly.com/subscribe
,
FCE17021
Sports Marketing MD of the Year – South England & Best Sports Media & Rights Company - UK Sports Revolution is an international sports marketing agency offering a range of services including sports sponsorship, consultancy and media planning. We invited Managing Director Kelly Williams-Richardson to tell us more about the company and give us a fascinating insight into her own success. Sports Revolution works with teams in the English Premier League and Championship, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Bundesliga and also Euroleague Basketball and rugby. Kelly talks us through her work, explaining how the work she does varies on a regular basis, interchanging between different sports with different activities. “Here at Sports Revolution, our work is varied, and as such I work on a variety of projects. I could be working with a Premier League football club to negotiate a sponsorship deal, helping a brand in Asia build a marketing campaign through sport, or helping a rights holder like UEFA to maximise the value of its sponsorship assets.” Possessing extensive knowledge of the sporting industry, Kelly’s previous job roles highlight her experience in the market. She details some of the changes she has seen since she started her career, both within her firm and also within the sports industry, with regard to women. Interestingly, Kelly believes that being a woman in a male
dominated industry can be advantageous for her. Her enthusiasm for sport is evident, and this translates into her vision of seeing women holding an equal standing in sport. “I have seen a significant shift in the attitude towards women’s sport in the UK over the past five years, and I think this offers further confidence to those women in the commercial area of the business to continue to grow and develop their careers. Being a woman in a male dominated environment can be a real advantage, as people tend to remember you, but ensuring that you are also taken seriously is very important, and the shift in perception from female commentators to commercial directors is hugely positive. “Excitingly, the recent success of national women’s sports teams in football, cricket and rugby is really helping to raise the profile of women’s sport. I think we are at a crucial moment in the history of this market: our national women’s team are starting to receive the commercial and media recognition they deserve, which is good news for the sport business industry and our
clients, presenting us with lots of opportunities to connect brands with fans.” Commenting on her leadership style, Kelly explains how she ensures everyone in her organisation understands her vision and works towards reaching the same goals. Inspiration and passion are key aspects of what Kelly believes make a successful team. “For me, it is about inspiring a team to feel as passionate about a project as you do. I remember early in my career working for a sales director whose style was to rule by fear, he was aggressive in his approach and whist it delivered results, the staff turnover was high, and team spirit was low. I remember making a promise to myself that if ever I was in that position I would want to inspire my team and deliver results based on hard work, respect and belonging, so that is what I try to do.” Looking ahead, Kelly talks us through her future plans for Sports Revolution, before going on to mention her ideas for her own career, including how she aims to build upon her own success.
18 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
“Sports Revolution has been in a period of transition, from a focus on media sales to a full-service sports media specialist. Winning this award for best Sports Media & Rights Agency helps us continue our mission to be the best independent sports agency in the UK.” “I am also a non-executive director of Women’s Sport Network, a not-for-profit community promoting issues and opportunities around women’s sport. Essentially, I would like to do more develop both the Women’s sports network and Women’s sports in general, but beyond that I am committed to delivering revenues and beneficial sponsorships to underrepresented sports, not just for women but for federations and associations for both sexes. Women’s sport sits in a long line of under-represented sports sectors such as squash or parkour, yet sponsor revenues are consistently pointed at the top 5. I would like to help change this and deliver a more rounded approach.” Lastly, Kelly signs off by explaining what she would like to see change with regard to women
g
Sports Marketing MD of the Year – South England & Best Sports Media & Rights Company - UK Company: Sports Revolution Contact: Kelly Williams-Richardson Address: 45-51 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 4HD, UK Phone: 0207 580 2850 Website: www.sportsrevolution.co.uk
in the corporate landscape, highlighting the need for women to have more self-confidence, realising they can be successful and have a family at the same time. Gender should be seen as irrelevant when it comes to the success of the person, as she explains. “Moving forward, I think the challenges for women can be different and we have to recognise that many women still
feel as if they can’t climb further up the career ladder due to family commitments or life balance, but for those that do, I would like to see more celebration of their work and skills not just their gender. Overall, I would like for the fact that I am female in sport to be irrelevant and commonplace, but it is still the first thing that is noticed and until that changes we have to embrace the advantages that this can bring.”
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 19
,
FCE17006
Best Social Care Consultancy MD - UK 3SpiritUK was developed from grass root social care practice, rather than from corporate ambition. We spoke to Caroline Bartle to find out more about the firm’s achievements, and future aspirations. A dedicated, passionate group of allied professionals, 3Spirit employs individuals from a range of backgrounds, including occupational therapy, social work and nursing. Caroline tells us about her past experiences and how she draws on her experience when making decisions in her current role. “Previously, I have worked in social work which is where I started my career. Often, I have felt there were problems with the culture and systems within the local authority care services which prevented proper connections between people. Many services forget that care, on whatever level, is about people, and how we create sustainable capacity for one human being to care for another. “Having started my first company, recruitment in health and social care, I fell into learning and development, and from that, I went on to complete an MBA and started to think about learning on a more strategic level. I developed several knowledge management frameworks that we used in training and in our consultancy work.” Providing expertise, possessing extensive knowledge in health and social care are all key aspects of what makes 3Spirit
successful. Caroline is very clear that success comes from collaboration as a team, and by working across boundaries “Winning this award is an honour for me, but would like to dedicate this to the 3Spirit team for their relentless commitment to pushing boundaries in social care and to supporting human rights consistently throughout their work. Our sector often receives negative press, so it’s wonderful to have an award that recognizes the value the sector brings in contributing to the foundations of a strong and resilient community” “Here at 3Spirit, our service is a collaboration of allied professionals. We work together to develop learning programs that are holistic and fit the integrated agenda. We work with health and social care services to enable compassionate and effective services; this might involve working with services that support adults with learning disabilities, dementia, mental health problems, physical disabilities and drug and alcohol problems.” Having a facilitative leadership style has been critical to her success. “As a person and leader, I have always been a visionary, but vision alone does not lead to success. Having a good mix of skills in a team is what enables
goals to be achieved. My leadership style is very facilitative, I trust in my team to present their own ideas and have autonomy and satisfaction in their work. I am incredibly lucky to work with the people I do. Many of whom have transitioned with me through the different companies.” Understanding challenges and opportunities within a sector are critical to success Caroline discusses what challenges she has faced and how they have affected her role, particularly with regard to women. “Some care services see learning and development as a tick box activity; this limits the extents to which an organisation can develop. We work hard to get people to believe in the power of their work and in the human capacity for supported change. Much more work still needs to be done, however, to enable the workforce to have a bigger impact in their work. “When we deliver any training in our sector you will see that most people in the class are women, and although men make excellent support staff we just do not see enough of them. However, in many senior positions in social care and health it is mainly men. Many women who are in senior positions like me have usually come up through the ranks, so have the experience of the real
20 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
challenges of front line practice and generally make excellent ambassadors.” “Looking ahead, I would like to see more support for women in care to become entrepreneurs. I want to see women being enabled to have the space to achieve this through more affordable childcare. Balancing the demands of a social care role (and in fact, any demanding work role) with the pressures of a family is extremely difficult. The progressive society in which we live, where the idea of a ‘business woman’ is further supported, still struggles to balance this newfound role with the maternal expectations of a women. To be both full-time is nothing short of superhuman” Ensuring what techniques she employs to make sure the
g
organisation runs successfully, Caroline points out the shift from being a for-profit organisation into being a social enterprise. This has enabled her to refocus her outcomes and priorities. “This year, we decided to turn the company from a for-profit into a social enterprise. As an organisation, we do not define our success in the profit we accrue, but in the social impact that we have. Many of our peer organisations restrict their learning resources for competitive advantage, however we want to continue to share our learning resources openly and freely. We do not want to be limited by competitive constraints, but be free to engage, learn across boundaries and have an impact.” Caroline has exciting plans for the future of 3Spirit, as well as what plans she has for her own career “Moving forward, I hope that the 3Spirit brand will continue to
Best Social Care Consultancy MD - UK
inspire, educate and challenge, enabling organizations to deliver the best, and most progressive care. “With regard to my own future plans, I am just about to embark on a PhD (Doctorate in Dementia) where I will be able to explore corporate responsibility in social care, specifically by looking at the social enterprise model and what innovation this might bring to the current demographic challenges that we have in care supporting an ageing population.”
Company: 3SpiritUK Contact: Caroline Bartle Contact Email: caroline@3spirituk.com Address: Maylands Business Centre, Redbourn Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7ES, UK Phone: 01442 368464 Website: www.3spirituk.com
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 21
,
FCE17022
Education Management CEO of the Year & Best Boarding School Development Consultancy - UK Simply Boarding is creating a revolution in personal wellbeing, one conversation, one person and one boarding school community at a time. We invited global boarding professional, Tracy Shand, to tell us more about her vision of building tomorrow for all. Tracy Shand is a front-line boarding professional with a dream to empower boarding staff around the world to become the best versions of themselves. Big things start from taking action on one small idea and she launched Simply Boarding in 2013. After working in boarding since 1996 Tracy decided to hire a coach in 2009. She quickly realised that, while personal development was becoming common in the business world, few boarding professionals benefitted from this type of development. “My inspiration for Simply Boarding was a result of a quote; ‘Every morning you have two choices- continue to sleep with dreams or wake up and chase them.’ “Coaching helps me to realise my dreams, and I am having great fun along the way. Working towards the mantra of ‘to lead others you must lead yourself first’, I’ve been on a personal development journey like no other. I thought it was time to share this with my colleagues and Simply Boarding was the result.”
Alongside living the dream, Simply Boarding delivers a clear message to boarding staff everywhere that tells them that they matter. With the boarding landscape changing, Tracy relocated to Asia to be a part of the growth of developing British education overseas. From setting up schools in China to being a founding housemistress in Korea, she now uses this first-hand knowledge to support schools taking this first step as Simply Boarding consultancy. Working with Boarding School Associations around the world, Tracy has led seminars, engaged in front line conversations and has had many articles published. She enjoys the opportunity to learn more from front line boarding professionals around the world to build tomorrow for everyone. A particular milestone for Tracy was the publication of the first ever personal development book for boarding staff called Boardingology, with all royalties going to the National Children’s Foundation. The book takes the reader through a range of strategies to encourage personal development using a hands-on series of exercises and action points.
She is now working on a boarding trilogy in specialist areas to be published within the next 12 months as well as creating a sister series for teachers who are in mainstream schools. As a woman working in the boarding school market, Tracy saw a need for wellbeing to become a focus. “Every day, in boarding schools around the world, women are breaking down barriers and blazing trails for the next generation to be successful. Sadly, like many organisations, the same attention is not placed on the wellbeing of staff. They aren’t encouraged to move forward to become the best version of themselves. “People talk about the glass ceiling for leaders, but it is time to go back to basics to build a foundation of resilience and allow the dreams of others to come to be acknowledged and valued. Women who come back into the workplace after having families or their children leaving home are valuable assets for boarding schools around the world.” As she looks to the future, Tracy is excited about the ongoing projects that she has created to make her vision a reality. She
22 CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017
has developed specialist greeting cards for boarding schools and introduced Boarding Mother’s Day and Boarding Father’s Day as amazing opportunities to thank staff who have chosen to parent the next generation. Using the concept of ‘boarding brews’ where staff get together to discuss student progress in an informal environment, she has created a new suite of personal development courses to get conversations for success started. These include a programme for new mothers returning to a boarding lifestyle. Reflecting on her journey so far, Tracy admits she had no idea that she would achieve what she has today, but now she has started the ball rolling she is really excited about the future. “Winning this award is an honour, an opportunity to take the conversation of staff wellbeing in boarding schools to the front of the agenda. Since embarking on coaching, I have been involved in setting up schools in Asia; led an assembly for 1500 students, spoken at boarding conferences in Australasia; becoming a toastmaster; all whilst remaining on the front line of boarding. I want as many people to have
g
Education Management CEO of the Year & Best Boarding School Development Consultancy - UK
“Every morning you have two choicescontinue to sleep with dreams or wake up and chase them.”
the same chance to live the life that they want with support and smiles. “Ultimately, my goals are to lead a taskforce to address the personal development needs of front line boarding staff to be well, successful and allow them to have the future that they want, also to put coaching into the front line of every boarding school. This is the final piece of the wellbeing puzzle for everyone.”
Contact: Tracy Shand Website: www.simplyboarding.com www.boardingology.com
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 23